Author: nvgrow

When it comes to supporting small businesses, partnerships are critical. At the College of Southern Nevada, we are proud of our latest collaboration with the City of Henderson for the Henderson Small Business Assistance Program (HSBA). Business owners selected for the HSBA Program will be paired with an NV Grow counselor who will provide technical expertise for up to 12 months. During that time, business owners will receive high-level technical assistance from skilled providers in a variety of fields, including marketing, web design, e-commerce, accounting, financing, video creation, and more. The goal is to help small businesses create a resiliency work plan that can help improve chances for entrepreneurial success while identifying project milestones.

Below is a conversation we had with NV Grow Counselor Thomas Carvalho and Lauren B. Parker, Founder of NDO Wellness. Her business was one of 10 ventures selected for the HSBA this year.

Interviewer:
Thomas, tell us about your role with CSN and NV Grow and how you help local businesses like NDO Wellness?

Thomas Carvalho:
“I serve as one of the counselors for NV Grow, which is a State of Nevada initiative customized to help existing small businesses throughout Southern Nevada. NV Grow connects entrepreneurs to essential data, marketing and business intelligence resources to help them build capacity and produce jobs. We work with businesses that have been up and running for at least 2 years and this is very similar to the concept which the City of Henderson had adopted for the Henderson Small Business Assistance (HSBA) program which Lauren has been selected to be a part of. NV Grow is providing counselors to help businesses like hers that are seeking help to grow and thrive in the City of Henderson”.

Interviewer:
Lauren, tell us about how your experience has been so far being part of HSBA and working with counselors like Thomas?

Lauren B. Parker:
“The experience has been eye-opening for me. I have really gained a ton of clarity working with the NV Grow counselors on how I should best use my resources moving forward. I attended one of the media training sessions that was offered and through that experience, I was able to see how my passion is working with senior citizens. So now as I look for ways to expand, I want to create more services for the older population in my community. It’s a big part of my “why” in starting my business and I am so happy to move in this direction.

Interviewer: 
Thomas, why do you think it’s so critical to have initiatives like NV Grow and HSBA in our business community?

Thomas:
“We do have a lot of support for small business owners here in Nevada, but there’s a special challenge for new entrepreneurs like Lauren who has to do everything on their own most of the time and wear multiple hats. When you are ready to grow and expand, there’s a whole set of challenges to face. So, it’s nice to know that there is a support system out there to help tackle the issues they may not have thought about before. Working with these small business owners has really been gratifying for me. I love it.”

Interviewer: 
Lauren, What’s your advice for other small business owners ready to pursue their dream?

Know of a small business or U.S. manufacturer that would be perfect for Open Call? Applications for Open Call 2024 are now open and will close July 15, 2024.

Open Call is the largest sourcing event for Walmart and Sam’s Club where selected American entrepreneurs pitch their product to a Walmart and/or Sam’s Club merchant for the chance to get their product on shelves and online. To be considered, products must be made, grown, or assembled in the United States.

In 2021, Walmart announced a 10-year, $350 billion investment in the future of U.S. Manufacturing that will support more than 750,000 new jobs. Open Call is central to that commitment and during last year’s event alone, Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants heard over 1,000 pitches from more than 700 businesses across all 50 states.

Important Dates:

July 15: Application period closes

Aug. 20: Entrepreneurs are notified if they are selected to pitch

Sept. 24-25: Open Call Event in Bentonville, Arkansas

Please share this information with small/medium businesses or U.S. manufacturers who might be interested in seeing their products on Walmart or Sam’s Club shelves or on Walmart.com!

Please see below for two official announcements from the Department of Business and Industry, Office of Labor Commissioner regarding minimum wages here in the state of Nevada.

Minimum Wage Bulletin 2024

OT Bulletin 2024

We are excited to share information about an upcoming event that could be incredibly beneficial for your business! The Access to Capital event is taking place on June 1, 2024, from 8:00 AM to 01:00 PM at the CSN – North Las Vegas Campus, and it’s free to attend.

This event is designed to connect you with investors, lenders, and resource partners who can help fuel your business growth. You will have the opportunity to participate in an access to resource panel, where experts will discuss the various resources available to support your business. The breakout sessions will cover essential topics such as access to investors, grants, and lenders, providing a comprehensive overview of the different financing options. You’ll also gain valuable insights from our grants panel and learn strategies to boost your sales through our access to revenue workshop.  To top it off, the event offers one-on-one meetings with financial experts, giving you personalized advice and guidance tailored to your business needs.

Event Details:

• Date: June 1, 2024
• Time: 8:00 AM – 01:00 PM
• Location: CSN – North Las Vegas Campus, Tyrone Thompson Student Union, 3200 E Cheyenne Avenue, North Las Vegas, NV 89030
• Registration Link: https://bit.ly/CAPITAL2024

Agenda:

• 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Networking
• 8:30 AM: Access to Resource Panel
• 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Breakout Sessions (Access to Investors Panel, Access to Grants Panel, Access to Lenders Panel)
• 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Access to Revenue Workshop
• 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: One-on-One Meetings

We believe this event can provide you with the resources and connections necessary to take your business to the next level. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Fiesta 98.1 FM has just been recognized by the US Small Business Administration at this year’s SBA Award Luncheon held on May 2, 2024 at IPEC Las Vegas. As the only Hispanic owned radio station in Nevada, Fiesta 98.1 received the SBA’s Microenterprise Small Business of the Year Award. Founding Managing Partners, Rafael Cerros Jr and Rogelio Regalado were on hand to accept the award.

Please read the full article here.

Unlock your startup’s potential with our Free Capital Readiness Start-Up Business Bootcamp! Dive into an 8-week, expert-led journey that not only shapes your business vision with the Business Model Canvas but also opens the door to funding opportunities for obtaining your business license. This no-cost bootcamp is your ticket to transforming ideas into action.

Click here to attend

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity for small business owners! Whether you’re thinking of launching a new venture or currently operating a business, please join us to make new connections and access FREE resources.

Walk-ins welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged.

Reserve a spot now

The Inaugural CSN Blackstone LaunchPad Side Hustle Expo took place on Thursday, March 28th from 3PM – 5PM at the CSN North Las Vegas campus. The event, which was held in the June Whitley Student Lounge, offered a platform for our amazing students to showcase their talents and side businesses.

With students using tri-fold boards provided by Blackstone LaunchPad to present their ventures, the atmosphere of the Expo resembled that of a dynamic science fair, filled with creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit. Those in attendance said they were impressed by the diversity and ingenuity on display.

“The CSN Blackstone LaunchPad Side Hustle Expo was a resounding success,” said Eric Garner, Director, CSN Small Business & Entrepreneurship Development. “Our goal was to give students the opportunity to share their visions and dreams and it was evident these young entrepreneurs were really excited to be there”.

Organizers of the Side Hustle Expo said this event was not just about showcasing businesses, but also fostering a supportive community for student entrepreneurs. Attendees had the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and gain valuable insights from industry professionals.

The first-place winner was CSN Sophomore, Salvador Duer, who launched his landscaping business, Duer Does it Green, 4 years ago.

“I was ecstatic when I found out I won,” said Duer. “I wasn’t expecting it but this win has boosted my confidence to keep going after my dream of running my business full-time. My advice for other young business owners is to go after your passion. I see myself now starting a movement for eco-conscious lawn care which I think is very important here in Nevada”.

The second-place winner was Alyssa Daniel with her crochet business, Arttzyee.

CSN Business student Charity Logan was among the student entrepreneurs who took part in the Side Hustle Expo. She showcased her current side business, Haunted Confections, a baked goods decorating business with a “Halloween” twist.

“I have always been passionate about sweet treats and also horror-themed things,” said Logan. “This side business is a way I get to be creative and hopefully earn some extra money as well. I was excited to take part in this expo because it will allow me to learn how to network and share the story of my business with the community”.

In all, close to 40 student entrepreneurs took part in the event, and over 100 people attended. The top winners received more than $4,000 in prizes, which included cash and Macbooks.

Photos from the event can be found online here.

SCORE Las Vegas is pleased to present a Small Business Funding panel designed to answer questions for those in business and those looking to start a business. Panelists include representatives from traditional and alternative funding sources. Each panelist will provide a short overview about their funding organizations in terms of what they look for when meeting with potential clients and what is required to secure access to capital.

We will then open the workshop up to the audience to ask questions of the panelists.  Each panelist will provide some thoughts on today’s financing environment and then time will be made available to have your own questions answered. We hope to see you there!

Please register here